Remy

Originally Posted by Remy

The current upheavals within the People partnership Government have, not unexpectedly, occasioned much speculation as to the longevity of that party. Can the PP survive this upsurge in internecine fighting which Mr. Warner described as unexpected intrigue, infighting and backbiting among members of the coalition? The answered to this question depends largely on who you listen to. For her part Prime Minister Bissesar dismissed with alacrity the views of Mr. Warner “as his opinion regarding issues within the party”. She opined that the ….. “PP was working very well and” … “we are human beings and have different opinions”. What we are witnessing is the shenanigans of a party which had a plan to win an election without delineating how it will treat with the various fractions within the coalition after it won the elections. One can argue that in light of the disaffection the population felt about Manning and the PNM at that time the PP did not actually win the election, Manning and the PNM lost.

What these internecine rumblings within the PP confirm however, is the inherent weakness of coalition Governments. Not that they do not have strengths. They do. One cannot overlook the fact that coalitions make claims of representing the interest of a wide cross section of the national community and, is therefore, theoretically, better positioned to deliver good governance to a greater percentage of the population than say single parties like the PNM.

On the other hand, single parties such as the PNM do have an advantage with respect to the stability they can bring to bear at the level of the Government. One major disadvantage of single parties is that they tend to become xenophobic and loose their evangelical zeal and stop competing to be representatives of the varied interests of the communities in which they reside. This apparent inherent weakness of single parties is something that must be addressed if they are to remain relevant to the politics of the day. I am on record as saying that the PNM lost its way when Manning was allowed unrestricted freedom to promote the party as a stand alone entity that does not need input from outsiders. The subliminal message in his statements was interpreted by many as meaning our interest will not find ready accommodation in the PNM.

I further suggested that the task ahead for Rowley was to make the PNM more evangelical in its outlook if it is to regain the seat of power, and that Rowley should show up at every protest and seek to become the face and the voice of every concern citizens raise against this Government. The PNM having forgotten opposition politics and must now relearn this art, ala Morris Marshall in order to remain relevant and ultimately regain the seat of Government.

With respect to coalition Governments, what has become evident is that this theoretical strength of wider representation ascribed to coalitions has proven to also be the Achilles heel of coalition Governments. What is becoming clearer is that while coalition arrangements do represent a wider cross section of interest, these interests must at times be placed on the back burner or even sacrificed for the greater good of national unity or continuity in government. Adherents to interest within a coalition agreement must therefore be ever vigilant in their pursuit of common ground if a coalition Government is to survive. There must, more so be in coalition Government, be a willingness on the part of all the major players of the coalition to demonstrate tolerance of the views of others in the interest of the greater good.
In Trinidad coalition parties have generally lived up to the ubiquitous view that they will not last. They have failed repeatedly to demonstrate the fusibility they need to inspire confidence in their ability to stay the course and manage the affairs of this country. In our current situation in Trinidad and Tobago what is on trial is more than the performance of the PP but the role, if any, a coalition Government can play in the diverse circumstance of our political landscape. The question of what could serve as a narcotic that can keep a coalition together was best answered by Selwyn Ryan when he said: “nothing would serve to epoxy the coalition more effectively than the prospect of a Manning/ Imbert coup and a PNM restoration”. In other words fear of a PNM return with Manning at the held is enough to bind this fledging group together.



This is the difficult task which faces the PP Government. Can the large egos within that party sacrifice their views and even their ambitions in order to ensure the survival of this Government? The evidence at this time suggests that this is highly unlikely. Let’s face it. This Government came into being as a consequence of a felicitous congruence of events and circumstances which did not include a clearly defined strategy for conflict resolution, and how internecine upheavals and disaffection within its rank will be addressed.
Hence, the hasty retreat to Tobago which by the way is yet to show evidence of tangible results. Representative of this Government appear reluctant to learn that the freedom of speech they enjoyed while in opposition must give way to more responsible utterances now that they are in Government.

There remains however a larger issue which we as a nation must address sooner rather than later. Namely, does this country at this time need the viscidities associated with a coalition Government during this period of global economic decline? Governments worldwide are struggling to deliver the quality of life demanded by its citizens and will therefore have to manage not just its respective economies but also how it is viewed both locally and internationally. Stability at the level of Government particularly in a developing country like ours is an essential prerequisite if Government is to attract the foreign investment it needs to meet its developmental goals.

The susceptibility of coalition Governments to diffract represents in my view a consideration that will not go unnoticed by investors. The current upheaval within this administration resonates beyond the PP as a party, The PP is in Government and its actions will have consequences for Trinidad and Tobago as a nation. It is my view that this country can ill afford the uncertainty associated with a coalition Government at this time.